Chapter Seven
Betrayal
Prince Darilth gazed at the band he kept in the black box. The Draco’s Eye glowed when he touched it. He put it on his wrist and felt its power surge through his blood immediately. He paced the length of his quarters in the spacecraft anxiously. He checked on the ring he wore, which was a communicator as well. A holographic screen projected from his ring. There were no messages from the guard who was supposed to take Ella to R13. According to his calculations, she should have reached home by now. He was still a few days away from his destination. He contacted his housekeeper then, and his heart thrummed madly in his chest when she told him that Ella never reached the house. His chest constricted terribly as he raked a hand through his hair, worry gnawing at him.
His ring blinked and, quickly, he checked the message, thinking it was from his housekeeper. His heart sank when he saw the message from the Council Chief.
I am sorry to inform you, Prince Darilth Rothgar of Iovis, that your father has been assassinated. You are required to leave all tasks at hand and return immediately to the Rothgar Castle.
Confusion and rage boiled his blood and he poured himself another glass of wine, taking a swig. What was going on? Was the castle under attack? And where was Ella?
He quickly ordered his commander to set the shortest course for home. He again tried contacting Keralth, but all communication with the castle had been lost. He couldn’t wait to get to the castle.
***
He attempted to get a message through to his brother telepathically, but it was being blocked for some indecipherable reason. All other forms of communication with the castle had been lost. He was stuck till he reached his destination.
It took them another few months before they reached Iovis. When Darilth’s ship landed on Iovis, he was still in the docking area when the guards came for him.
“What is going on?” Darilth demanded, his jaw clenched, as the guards held him.
“Prince Keralth wants to see you, my lord,” the guard said.
“Yes, I would like that,” Darilth said, annoyed by their behavior.
Darilth immediately saw how Keralth had changed, haughtily sitting on the throne. He caught the sinister gleam in his amber eyes and a chill ran down his spine. Darilth tried reading his mind but he was still being blocked.
“Welcome home, brother,” Keralth hissed.
“Keralth,” Darilth said, his voice low and seething.
“I have news for you, brother,” he said. “I take it you’ve heard that our father was brutally murdered. I’m afraid to let you know that all the evidence says that you are responsible.”
“What?” Darilth said shocked.
“The council has made its decision, Darilth,” Keralth hissed, his gaze chilling Darilth to the bone. “You will be tried for the murder of Kind Rezelith the III.”
“I will talk to the council myself! Somebody’s been feeding them lies,” Darilth said, his heart beating faster and rage pumping through his blood.
“Guards, arrest him,” Keralth ordered. Four guards came forward and put him in shackles.
It was in that moment that it dawned on Darilth what Keralth was doing. He gazed at his half-brother and saw the madness in his eyes. Then, suddenly, he thought of Ella. Keralth must have been aware of her whereabouts. His breathing became labored as he tried to control his rage. His fists clenched as he instinctively pulled on the restraints.
“Where is Ella, Keralth?” Darilth said, knowing where things were going.
“What’s the hurry, brother? I’ll tell you when you get comfortable in the dungeons,” Keralth hissed sarcastically. He sounded like a maniac.
Darilth knew it was futile asking him anything further.
They locked him up in the Dark Cell deep down below in the castle’s dungeons. A lone guard stood at the door. He looked like an old man, but that was an illusion. He was a demon who thrived on the prisoner’s misery.
The guards chained him at the far end of the cell and left him alone with the demon. Darilth could already feel the pressure building in his head. Soon it would turn into a searing pain that throbbed at his temples, making it impossible for him to think clearly. All Darilth could think of was Ella as he tried to block out the demon’s force telepathically.
***
Darilth woke up with a start as cold liquid splashed his face. His was stripped naked and his eyes hurt when he tried to open them. Hot, searing pain pierced every part of his toned, muscular body where deep wounds had been inflicted on him as torture. He was a warrior – he had been trained to bear wounds, but this was the kind of torture specifically meant to hurt him. He was strong – still standing while others in his place would have long succumbed to the wounds. His left eye was swollen with bruises as dark blue blood trickled down his face. His long, silver hair was a mess. A few strands were matted to his forehead and jaw, drenched in blood. His breathing was erratic and shallow, like that of a dying man. He wondered how long he had been unconscious.
Mustering all his strength, he opened his eyes and saw Keralth standing there, dressed in his finest robes, as a guard stood outside waiting. The demon guard was nowhere in sight.
“So, finally, we can talk,” Keralth said, dryly.
“Wh-where is Ella?” Darilth whispered. It took all his strength to say those few words.
“Oh, I thought you would never ask,” Keralth said in a vicious tone, a smirk curling his lips. “The dark moon has her.”
“No... No!” Darilth’s voice broke. “You ca-can’t do this to her! Get her out of there!” His breathing became more labored and his voice hoarse as his chest constricted terribly. Something inside his heart broke, then shattered. The physical pain from his wounds was practically numbed when compared to the tearing of his heart.
No... Please, not my Ella.
The dark moon is a terrible, terrible place. She won’t survive it... Mekarth wailed.
“What... do you want...Keralth?” Darilth said wearily, his breath coming in gasps.
“Draco’s Eye, Darilth. Give it to me and Ella will live,” he said.
“You know... you can’t wield the power of the Eye,” Darilth said.
“Oh, I can, if you willingly entrust it to me. When the judge convicts you of murder, I will be the next successor,” he said with an evil smile plastered on his face.
“The Council will never agree to it,” Darilth replied.
“They will, brother, when I present to them the assassin who will confess to have killed the King,” Keralth seethed.
“I ... I want to see Ella alive and safe... I want her safely transported back to her home planet. Only then... will I give you the Eye,” Darilth challenged him.
“Oh, that won’t be needed. Your little whore is pregnant and dying. Remember how Father told you that she was weak – not good enough for you? Too bad, really, that you didn’t listen.”
“Do not speak of my wife like that, Keralth!” Darilth hissed through clenched teeth, breathing hard as his hands closed into fists and his knuckles turned white.
“Think about it, Darilth. She doesn’t have much time left. You had better decide which one you want to keep: the Eye or the woman.”
“Keralth... Please... have mercy on her... She’s pregnant. She won’t survive there...” Darilth begged, desperate to save his wife. She was carrying his baby, and she was in such a terrible place. His father had been wrong. She was a strong woman. Strong enough to produce an heir.
Keralth laughed and left without another word, the cell door closing behind him.
Darilth would never have given Keralth the satisfaction of gloating over his misery, but as soon as he was gone, he collapsed. Suspended by chains, his whole body sagged. Tears streamed down his already blood-streaked face, and sobs wracked his body. Excruciating pain seared his head as he thought of her suffering. He coughed up blood while trying to catch his breath.
No, No, No! Ella, Ella... I’m so sorry...
And far away on the Dark Moon, Ella dreamed of Darilth. He was bound in chains and severely wounded and he was crying out her name in misery. She wanted to take him in her arms and comfort him but an invisible wall was in between them. She was helpless. She woke up in the dim light, shivering as cold sweat beaded her face. The first thought that came to her mind was that he had been captured in battle by the enemy and was a prisoner of war.
***
Darilth didn’t know how long he wallowed in his grief, crying out her name in the dark, trying desperately to reach her telepathically. He knew it was all futile. He went numb.
Darilth, get a grip! You must think clearly if you want to save her! his inner dragon said fiercely.
He pulled against his restraints, jaw clenched, and took a deep breath to regain control. Mekarth was right. He must do something if he wanted to save Ella and the throne. His mind raced as he thought of a way out. Then, he thought of the witch. Merelith! Yes, she could help him if he could summon her.
But there is one problem. The demon never sleeps. He will sense if we try to contact someone telepathically outside these walls! Mekarth reasoned.
He had a point, thought Darilth. He looked at his hand. He still wore the ring. His captors didn’t know that it was a secret communicator, undetectable for demons. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t thought of it before. He turned it in his hand and pressed the core. A holographic screen appeared right above his hand as he deftly tapped a message and pressed send. Now all he had to do was wait.